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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 


Chap. Copyright No... 

Shelf ih^-E-LTl ^ 


UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



* 




' 




































A CONSPIRACY 

OF 

YESTERDAY 


BY 

MICAL ui NIALL 

* 



THE 

Jlbbey press 

PUBLISHERS 

114 

FIFTH AYENUE 
NEW YORK 


84427 


Library of Congress 

Two Copies Received 

DEC 5 1900 

CopydgM entry 

cSa_«, ( / 3/ ttyoo 

«•.&...$£ /&?... 

SECOND COPY 

Qeiiverad to # 

ORDER DIVISION 

DEC 22 19QQ 









Copyright, 1900, 
by 
THE 

Bbbey press 

in 

the 

United States 
and 

Great Britain. 

All Rights Reserved. 






CONTENTS. 


PART I. 

PAGE 

Tells What Took Place at the Council of St. Petersburg. . 9 

PART II. 

Being Extracts from the Minutes of the Meeting Which 
was Held at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City. . 12 

PART III. 

Which Merely Consists of Newspaper Notices and 
Advertisements 19 

PART IV. 

Being a Verbatim Report of a Conversation which Took 
Place in Inspector Mallon’s Office in Scotland Yard. . 21 

PART V. 

Comprises Extracts from the Diary of One of the Men 
Who Answered the Advertisement in t An Gaodhal . . 26 

PART VI. 

Extracts from the Diary of Inspector Mallon — What Hap- 
pened to Mr. Leedom, of Cincinnati, When He 
Arrived in London 41 


Contents* 


PART VII. iw 

Extracts Made from the Report of Detective-Sergeant 
O’Shaughnessy 54 

PART VIII. 

Inspector Mallon’s Diary Concluded 73 


viii 


A Conspiracy of Yesterday. 


PART I. 

TELLS WHAT TOOK PLACE AT THE COUNCIL OP ST. 

PETERSBURG. 

“Now, gentlemen, to summarize: When the 
Trans-Siberian Railway is in thorough working 
order the invasion of Afghanistan will com- 
mence ; the Ameer promises a fierce resistance so 
as to allay any doubts which the British may have 
as to his loyalty. In the meantime, the Irish, if 
they have gotten Home Rule, will have organized 
a militia, presumably to defend the Empire but 
in readlity to make one supreme effort to throw 
off the British yoke. That is the idea — is it not?” 

“Exactly as we understand it, Your Majesty.” 

“General O’Brienski proposes that we give him 
half a million roubles and carte blanche as to how 
9 


A Conspiracy of Yesterday . 


he is to proceed and he will guarantee Home Rule 
to Ireland within eighteen months.” 

“Your Majesty has the idea in its entirety, and 
all that is now required is your consent and au- 
thority. Granted that the Irish get Home Rule 
and that they revolt at the proper time, future 
historians may date the beginning of the decline 
of the British Empire as being co-existent with 
the granting of Home Rule to Ireland. With a 
revolt in Ireland it would be sheer madness for 
the British to throw their Irish troops against us 
in India or elsewhere, as there would always be a 
possibility of their coming over to us so as to 
assist their brethren at home and, of course, it 
would be altogether out of the question to use 
Irish troops to suppress an Irish rebellion. But 
the Irish must be given assistance other than in 
the getting of Home Rule — they have no military 

men to train them in the art of war and ” 

“How about the American-Irish ? Are not a 
great many of them in the American army?” 

“Yes, Your Majesty, but the majority of the 
American-Irish are Irish in spots only. If it 

to 


A Conspiracy of Yesterday ♦ 

would be of any material advantage to the Ameri- 
can Empire that Ireland should always be sub- 
ject to Britain the American-Irish would readily 
acquiesce in the new condition, as their interest 
in Ireland is but a sort of a sentimental hatred of 
England; of course there are some who place 
Ireland beyond all nations, but they are men of 
neither position nor ability.” 

“Well, then, what do you suggest?” 

“That the Fenians send to us the brightest of 
their men so that we may give them a thorough 
training in the theoretical side of war and, if 
possible, a little practical illustration by sending 
them as attaches to view some of the minor wars 
which England or some of the other civilizing 
powers is always waging against the weaker peo- 
ples.” 

“Very good, then, we’ll consider this as being 
settled and now we’ll look into the reports from 
Finland.” 


U 


A Conspiracy of Yesterday < 


PART II. 

BEING EXTRACTS FROM THE MINUTES OB THE 
MEETING WHICH WAS HELD AT THE WAL- 
DORF ASTORIA IN NEW YORK CITY. 

The Chairman : “Gentlemen — It has long 
been my opinion that the efforts which our com- 
patriots have made to free the land of our nativity 
have been illy devised and more illy directed. 
Sporadic outbreaks on the hillsides are very good 
in their way, as they tend to show the world that 
all the Irish people have not accepted the rule of 
England as being absolute and that we can never 
be reconciled to laws made and enforced by aliens. 
But we must acknowledge that it is altogether out 
of our power to drive the British from Ireland 
with such means as we now possess. If our peo- 
ple were all revolutionists we might be able to 
do so, but, unfortunately, they are not; and, be- 
sides, we must consider that in the priesthood of 

n 


A Conspiracy of Yesterday* 


the various denominations the Government pos- 
sesses a more vital force for our subjection than 
it does in its combined constabulary, spy and mili- 
tary forces ! You may doubt it, but nevertheless 
it is true. The Roman Catholic hierarchy prefers 
that we should be under Britain and does all that 
it possibly can to keep us there, as the Roman 
Powers hold the fatuous opinion that England 
will be converted to Catholicity through the in- 
strumentality of the Irish ; while the priests of all 
other denominations are opposed to us, as they 
fear that ‘Home Rule means Home Rule’ — a 
thing which I think altogether impossible, al- 
though I am a Catholic myself. 

“Parliamentary agitation is a mere farce, and 
by no means can we hope to separate the king- 
doms by constitutional means, and I for one am 
of the opinion that if we are satisfied to work 
along parliamentary lines we might as well call 
ourselves Britons pure and simple and acknowl- 
edge that the Celtic peoples are bur a people in 
name. Within the British Empire we can have 
the fullest and freest individual measure of in- 
13 


A Conspiracy of Yesterday* 

dependence, as, when loyally and honestly sup- 
ported, the Government of England is as good as 
the government of any other country. But we 
Gaels have some pride and w^e believe that we are 
entitled to say who shall rule our land, and while 
the men of our blood breathe the breath of life 
they will ever be conspiring to overthrow alien 
rulers.” 

Number Four: “Mr. Chairman, our noble 

martyr, Emmet, said ” 

The Chair: “Number Four will please re- 
member that we did not come here to discuss 
what Emmet said — we are here for business on a 
live issue and ” 

Number Four: “But, Mr. Chairman, I pro- 
test against such highhanded ruling and I ” 

The Chair: “Number Four is at liberty to 
retire if he is not satisfied. We have not come 
here to emulate orators, and Emmet w r as the first 
of the revolutionists to become immortal by the 
power of his tongue. Had he not made that 
speech of his very few of us would have ever 
heard of him, and I for one am tired of having 
U 


A Conspiracy of Yesterday ♦ 

a weak, though noble and honest, failure held up 
t© me as a model. I worship success, not failure, 
and I would rather that Ireland had one Crom- 
well in her train of heroes than a million Emmets ! 
Number Four will please remember that since 
Emmet’s time nearly all our leaders have achieved 
popularity by speechmaking instead of working, 
and that by the over-free wagging of their 
tongues our people have been split into rival 
camps and factions. 

“Now, gentlemen, to resume: At the present 
moment there are half a dozen revolutionary so- 
cieties, not one of which deserves the support of 
any sane man — they are mere opera bouffe con- 
spiracies, and the men who lead them should be on 
the comic opera stage. All of these so-called rev- 
olutionary societies are officered by fat-witted, in- 
capable nonenities, and what little mother-sense 
they have is fully occupied in attending to their 
routine duties and twisting the lion’s tail, with a 
purchase of three thousand miles, while they 
pose before the world as influences ! 

“It is worse than useless to expect good from 

15 


A Conspiracy of Yesterday* 

such sources, therefore has this meeting 1 been 
called that something may be done before the 
hope that is in the heart of the Irish people dies 
out. The Chair will be pleased to have other 
gentlemen make practical suggestions — Number 
Ten has the privilege of the floor.” 

Number Ten : “I had made up my mind to 
withdraw from the Irish movement, as I was sat- 
isfied that all hope was dead. I am now an old 
man and the romance has died out of my life; 
but as the invitation for this meeting was in the 
Gaelic tongue I broke my resolution and I am 
here. If we are here to organize a new society 
I think that it will be but a waste of time, as I 
believe that the revolutionary spirit is dead and 
buried beyond all resurrection. Besides, we 
would only follow where others have trod, and in 
a very short time we would split into units and 
another nail would be driven into the coffin of 
poor Erin! I have nothing further to say, but 
will await the pleasure of the Chair.” 

Number Three: “If the Chair will please to 
tell us what his idea is we will be in a better posi- 
\6 


A Conspiracy of Yesterday* 

tion to advise with him ; at present we are grop- 
ing in the dark and none of us know why we are 
here.” 

The Chair: “If you will agree to obey me 
without further questioning I will guarantee Ire- 
land a republican government within five years.” 

Several members protested against moving so 
completely in the dark and reminded the Chair 
that, although his credentials were excellent, 
practically nothing was known of him. The 
Chairman then modified his proposition and 
agreed to take the meeting into his confidence, 
providing a majority of the gentlemen present 
would pledge themselves to give him a certain 
amount of support — those who would not accept 
were to retire. Numbers Three and Seven re- 
fused to give any pledge, so they retired from the 
meeting and the Chairman made his promise 
good. 

The Chair: “Now, gentlemen, I trust that I 
have made this quite clear to you and that you 
are satisfied as to my ability to do as I promised, 
barring such accidents as no man can foresee. 

M 


A Conspiracy of Yesterday, 


You agree to get me one hundred Irishmen who 
are FLUENT SPEAKERS OF IRISH and who 
will be willing to undergo great risks to establish 
an Irish republic; while I, on my part, agree to 
pay them well and treat them as soldiers while 
they remain in my service. Very good! It is 
not necessary for me to say that what has taken 
place here is to be forgotten, except I should ask 
you to remember it, and let me add that I do not 
consider any man’s life too sacred to permit him 
to live should he thwart me in the effort which I 
am about to make. This meeting will now ad- 
journ and the various committees will proceed to 
act on the lines indicated.” 


A Conspiracy of Yesterday* 


PART III. 

WHICH MERELY CONSISTS OE NEWSPAPER NOTICES 
AND ADVERTISEMENTS. 

“Passed Kinsale Head: the Russian cruiser 
Catherine, with dispatches for the Russian Am- 
bassador at Washington.” 

(Shipping note in N. Y. Herald.) 

“Wanted — Men to canvass for a new Irish 
paper. To fluent speakers of Irish $10.00 per 
week will be paid. Apply to A. B., this office. ,, 

(Advertisement in An Gaodhal , New York.) 

“Great excitement prevailed in Chappydom yes- 
terday because Mr. Leedom, of Cincinnati, was 
in town. It is well known that Mr. Leedom 
strikingly resembles the Prince of Wales; so 
much so, indeed, that his friends and intimates 
dub him 'Your Royal Highness/ ‘His Highness* 
\9 


A Conspiracy of Yesterday* 


is really a royal good fellow and is no stranger to 
New York or its gaieties. He sails for Europe 
on the Germanic and will be gone for six or seven 
months, as his firm has authorized him to estab- 
lish agencies in Great Britain, France, Russia, 
Germany and Switzerland. As is usual with 
‘His Highness’ he will combine business with 
pleasure, and we wish him lots of both.” 
(Cholly Knickerbocker in the N. Y. Journal.) 


“Wanted — A man able to speak, read and write 
Irish fluently; also, two laborers, both of whom 
must be fluent speakers of Irish, though it is not 
necessary that they should read and write it. Ap- 
ply to B. C., this office.” 

(Adv. in Vainne r An Lae , Dublin, Ireland.) 


20 


A Conspiracy of Yesterday, 


PART IV. 

BEING A VERBATIM REPORT OP A CONVERSATION 

WHICH TOOK TEACE IN INSPECTOR MAEEON’s 
OPPICE IN SCOTLAND YARD. 

Mallon — “Well, O’Shaughnessy, what is new 
in the Irish movement ?” 

O’Shaughnessy — “Nothing, Inspector, abso- 
lutely nothing. The Dublin crowd has almost 
quit and the Yankees are so badly divided that 
we have nothing to fear from them ; I’m sorry 
that Lyman’s League panned out so miserably — 
had he been able to instill any of his venom into 
his followers there would have been glory and 
promotion for us here in the Yard; now we have 
nothing to do but to sit and dream of the days 
when the Fenians were more or less occupied in 
keeping us from going asleep. I believe that the 
French colony is on its uppers, but I’m not sure 
21 


A Conspiracy of Yesterday. 


of them, as I have nothing to do with them di- 
rectly, and the dreamers here in London are still 
big with the idea that a literary Ireland is a free 
Ireland.” 

Mallon — “Well, you know that I did all that a 
man could do to entrap the New York crowd. I 
sent money to both the secretaries, but they were 
too honest and were not to be 'had/ One of them 
had the nerve to write me that the money would 
be used to further the cause of Fenianism! As 
for that Jackass Jones, I am in no way responsi- 
ble for him.” 

O’Shaughnessy — “He did as well as could be 
expected, as he did not have the training neces- 
sary to entrap the Yanks. They are very easy, 
as all a man has to do is to agree with the con- 
servative element and be more or less cautious as 
to what he has to say ; on the contrary, no matter 
how really honest a man may be, if he is critical 
and inclined to favor the advanced element, the 
fools think that he'll bear watching. Now, as to 
the information which Jonesy sent us, it was not 
worth a match* as it could have been gleaned 
22 


A Conspiracy of Yesterday* 


from the New York papers, since the patriots are 
all the time blowing about what they are going 
to do. Every fellow of any prominence, and a 
great many of no prominence, make it a point to 
get on committees so as to get their names in print 
and if, by any means, they can get themselves 
interviewed they at once rise to the dignity of 
‘layding min/ Just look at this report of the 
Emmet celebration in the Philadelphia Press. 
You would scarcely think it possible to get so 
many nonentities together, and the fun of it is that 
not one in a hundred of them mean anything, and 
as for their courage — well, ’tis their own!” 

Mallon — ‘‘Well, we’ll be able to test them if 
we should ever have the pleasure of a visit from 
them. What progress is this new Irish League 
making in the West?” 

O’Shaughnessy — “Judging from what our 
friend Davitt says, he’ll be shaking the Empire in 
a very short time.” 

Mallon — “Did you see that advertisement in 
Fainne An Lae?” 

O’Shaughnessy — “Yes.” 

23 


A Conspiracy of Yesterday* 

Mallon — “ Anything back of it?” 

O’Shaughnessy — “I think not. Those Gaelic 
Leaguers are hot on re-establishing the Irish 
tongue as the every-day language in Ireland, but 
they’ll soon get tired of it, and if they don’t split 
into factions they’ll simply die out and follow all 
such movements to the grave.” 

Mallon — “Do you speak Irish, O’Shaugh- 
nessy ?” 

O’Shaughnessy — “Never spoke anything else 
until I was twelve years old, and then the Sagart* 
and the master wallopped the Beurla** into me; 
even now when I get excited it is Irish that 
springs to my lips and I can think more clearly 
when I think in Irish, yet the patriots say that I 
am not Irish, while they who can talk no lan- 
guage but English are.” 

Mallon — “Well, as you have nothing else to do 
you might as well answer that advertisement, as 
there may be something back of it.” 

O’Shaughnessy — “All right, but I don’t expect 


* Sagart — Priest 


** Beurla — English Language. 

24 


A Conspiracy of Yesterday* 

it to lead anywhere further than the Gaelic offices 
in Dublin. By the way, can you tell me where 
the ‘P’ goes to-morrow ?” 

Mallon — “The usual place. Jenks reports that 
the Countess is there and that the messengers 
have been coming and going for the past two 
weeks. For a man of his age the ‘P’ is the gayest 
of the gay.” 

O’Shaughnessy — “He certainly is not the slow- 
est. Well, I’ll be going. I’ll attend to that ad- 
vertisement and let you know the result. Bean- 
nacht leat *.” 

* Beannacht leat — Good-by. 


25 


A Conspiracy of Yesterday* 


PART V. 

COMPRISES EXTRACTS PROM THE DIARY OP ONE OP 
THE MEN WHO ANSWERED THE AD- 
VERTISEMENT in An Gaodhal. 

“When I was ushered into the room I saw an 
oldish man who addressed me in Irish and said: 
‘You come in answer to the advertisement?’ 

“In the course of a five minutes’ conversation 
he asked me where I was born, how long I had 
been in America, if I was well acquainted with 
the people, and my opinion as to the prospects for 
a new Irish paper advocating advanced princi- 
ples ? His evident intention was to test my ability 
to speak Irish fluently, and satisfied as to that he 
asked me point blank why I had severed my con- 
nection with the Clan Na Gael and the Irish Na- 
tional Alliance? I denied that I had been con- 
nected with either of the organizations, but he 
promptly shut me up by telling me what my regi- 
26 


A Conspiracy of Yesterday* 


mental number had been in the Clan Na Gael and 
the name of the Council of the Alliance to which 
I had belonged. 'It is evident/ said he, 'that you 
have learned discretion and you may consider 
yourself engaged at ten dollars per week for a 
period of six months ; you’ll not be told anything 
for the present as to the duties which you’ll be 
expected to perform, nor the place in which you’ll 
be required to serve — it may be in the States, it 
may be in Africa, or it may be in Ireland. One 
point on which you may make your mind easy 
is that, barring accidents, you’ll be just as safe as 
would be here in New York. In the inner room 
you’ll find a man who is known to you and he 
will vouch for me ; from him you will get further 
instructions/ 

"Precisely at ten p. m., on the following Sat- 
urday, I was at Pier io. North River, and on 
presenting my credentials was put aboard an ex- 
cursion steamer with about one hundred other 
men. Off Sandy Hook we were transferred to 
a large seagoing vessel and were immediately 
sent below for the night. On Sunday morning 
27 


A Conspiracy of Yesterday ♦ 


we were supplied with sailors’ clothing, and 
scarcely had we donned this than we were ordered 
on deck, where we were drawn up in a line and 
compelled to assume all sorts of positions and atti- 
tudes by a sergeant, who began to ‘set us up’ on 
approved military lines, meanwhile keeping up a 
running fire of comment, in Irish, on our awk- 
wardness. After an hour or so the ‘Old Man’ 
(we never knew his name nor did we ever speak 
of him except as the ‘Old Man’) came on deck 
and stood opposite to us while he spoke to the 
following effect: 

“ ‘Men,’ said he, ‘you are now in the service of 
the Irish Republic, and you must be prepared to 
obey orders promptly. No language will be spo- 
ken on this vessel save Irish, and any man who 
speaks one word of English will forfeit a day’s 
pay for so doing. Remember, the less you speak 
the better; when on duty you must not speak at 
all except on matters relating to your duties, and 
then only with your superior officers. This vessel 
is a man-of-war, and rigid discipline will be en- 
forced ; no arguments or suggestions will be tol- 
28 


A Conspiracy of Yesterday* 


erated from you — your officers know what their 
duties are, and the quicker you learn yours the 
better it will be for you. As the Irish Republic 
has no international standing as yet, it will be 
necessary to hoist the flags of other nations should 
we meet with English men-o’-war, and no matter 
what flag we hoist it will be no concern of yours ! 
If you have any objections to offer, this is the 
time and place to state them, as henceforth you 
will not dare to object/ 

“The man at my right hand saluted as w'ell as 
he knew how, and being granted permission to 
speak, said: 

“ As citizens of the Irish Republic, and en- 
gaged in its business, I can’t see why we should 
not have something to say as to how that busi- 
ness should be transacted. For ten or fifteen 
years I have been more or less active in the 
revolutionary movement, and always have had 
full permission to express my opinion on every 
matter relating to the movement, providing I 
did so in proper language — every other man had 
the same right, and I cannot see that we have any 
29 


A Conspiracy of Yesterday* 

reason to regret it. Why cannot we have the 
same privilege here? We are all fairly intelli- 
gent men and I hope that we are true to our 
ideals; yet you wish to treat us as if we were 
too ignorant to have an opinion worth anything 
on any subject.’ *> 

“To him the ‘Old Man’ replied : ‘Your candid 
question needs a candid answer, so I will tell you 
my reasons for not permitting you to have any 
say in this matter. First, I know of no military 
law which says that I must consult privates be- 
fore I proceed to carry out the instructions which 
I received from my superiors. Second, I do not 
consider the precedent of your lime-light revolu- 
tionary societies as being worth following. Your 
societies have always failed because there are too 
many people to be consulted, and while there may 
be safety in a multitude of councilors there is 
always sure to be dissension. I know what a one- 
man power can do when the one man is a man ! 
Under your democracies the most able men have 
to truckle to bigotry and ignorance and prejudice, 
or out of office they will be pitched to make room 
30 


A Conspiracy of Yesterday, 


for some low time-server! If you doubt my 
word, bring Parnell to your mind’s eye and re- 
member how he was treated by brainless idiots 
because he would not truckle to them and their 
heavenly go-betweens ! And Parnell was the 
greatest man Ireland has produced for the past 
two hundred years. Your other great men have 
been either Provincial-Irish or Catholic-Irish, 
while he was only Irish-Irish! This is a one- 
man expedition, and any of you who do not care 
to come further along my road have my permis- 
sion to withdraw — there is the sea, and overboard 
you may go! Not another word will be said on 
this or any other subject without my permission. 
Your officers have been appointed, not elected — 
and see that you obey them or you will suffer for 
it. If they treat you unjustly you are at liberty 
to make a complaint, and justice will be done. 
Each of you will be allotted to a squad and given 
a number, and when your squad and number is 
called you will do well to respond promptly.’ 

“To work the cruiser there was a regular 
crew, who got their orders in a language which 
31 


A Conspiracy of Yesterday ♦ 

we did not understand. We had nothing to do 
with the sailing of the vessel, but we were not 
kept in idleness on that account: we had to keep 
our own quarters in thorough order, besides hav- 
ing to clean and scrub the decks. 

“We were drilled in the use of the cutlass and 
small arms for six hours daily, and for two hours 
we were worked like galley slaves handling the 
rapid-fire guns on the upper and lower decks, 
while we spent one hour on the heavy guns in the 
turrets, and as our officers were past masters of 
their business we soon became fairly expert sol- 
diers and gunners. 

“By my reckoning we were at sea exactly eight 
weeks and four days when we put into a port, 
where we remained for about ten hours while 
messages were being sent and received by the 
‘Old Man/ None of us were permitted to land, 
nor were we permitted to send letters ashore, and 
when we were below that night Number Four of 
our squad (E) said that it was an outrage, and 
Number Nine suggested that he should tell the 
‘Old Man’ so in the morning. The other men 
32 


A Conspiracy of Yesterday* 

laughed, and when Four said that he would make 
his complaint they laughed the louder — we knew 
the ‘Old Man’ very well by this time, and when 
we had grievances we kept them to ourselves. 

“We were at attention and our rifles were being 
examined by the drill sergeant when the ‘Old 
Man’ came along with his usual cold-blooded 
query, ‘Any complaints, men?’ Four saluted, 
grounded arms and said, ‘Yes, sir.’ 

“ ‘Well, my man, what is it? State your griev- 
ance and be as brief as possible.’ 

“ ‘I think, sir,’ began Number Four, ‘it was an 
outrage on our rights as men and patriots that 
we were not permitted to communicate with our 
families when we were in a port ; we did not ex- 
pect that we would be permitted to refer to the 
expedition nor to say anything about what we 
were doing, but we do think that after our letters 
would have been examined by our superior offi- 
cers they should have been mailed, providing 
nothing objectionable was found in them.’ 

“ ‘My man, you are entitled to your opinion, but 
you have broken a stringent law when you ques- 
33 


A Conspiracy of Yesterday* 


tion my actions or authority to do as I think best. 
Sergeant,’ he said, ‘disarm this man and hold him 
in the brig until further orders.’ Then the ‘Old 
Man’ turned on his heel and went below. 

“ ‘Number Four: Advance! Right about face! 
March!’ and off to the brig went poor Number 
Four. We worked all day, and while we worked 
we thought of Number Four, but, even at meal 
times, we were afraid to speak of him or his pun- 
ishment. 

“At night we spoke of him with hushed breath, 
and Fifteen of B sounded us on the propriety of 
making a break for the brig and rescuing Four. 
He talked so long and so plausibly that we were 
about convinced that he was right, but we decided 
that it would be rank foolishness on our part to 
make any attempt. 

“In the middle of the night we were aroused 
by a crash and a roar of arms and the smell of 
burning powder filled our nostrils, while the 
groans and yells which saluted our ears told us 
that something serious had happened. We 
rushed for the companionway, but the men of 
34 


A Conspiracy of Yesterday* 

A squad were there and the 'Old Man’ was at 
their head. 'Back to your bunks!’ he shouted, 
and back we went until we were ordered out at 
the usual hour. 

"A Squad was manning the rapid-fire guns 
when we of E got on deck ; we were marched to 
the port side, while the men of C escorted six 
men of B to the starboard rail and lined them 
up against the rail. Not a word was spoken until 
the ‘Old Man” commanded E Squad, 'Attention !’ 
Then he stepped forward and said: 'Men, it is 
not customary with me to explain my actions, but 
as you are new to military laws and discipline I 
will make an exception on this occasion. Num- 
ber Four, of E, was guilty of an act of insubordi- 
nation and was promptly sent to the brig. Sev- 
eral men, amongst whom were the men of B 
whom you see before you, made an attempt to 
rescue Number Four this morning. Eight of the 
rescuers were killed in the assault and these six 
were taken prisoners. These men are guilty of 
the most heinous crime known to the laws of mili- 


35 


A Conspiracy of Yesterday* 

tary rule, and therefore they have been con- 
demned to death. Lieutenant, do your duty !’ 

“ Again I heard : 'E Squad, attention ! — Ready ! 
— Aim at the prisoners !’ My knees were grow- 
ing weak and a mist began to rise before my eyes. 
I became conscious of a hoarse murmur and, as 
if out of space, I heard the 'Old Man’s’ voice ring 
out: 'Squad A, train your guns to cover the 
firing party.’ I heard the creaking and the rattle 
of the wheels as the guns were elevated, but above 
it all I heard the lieutenant’s voice command, 
'Fire !’ and, as if they were one, the rifles of our 
squad rang out. Instinctively I had closed my 
eyes, and with a feeling of horror I slowly opened 
them and, by the living God! the six men were 
standing upright — we had missed ! 

"Would we have to go through the terrible 
ordeal again? But no — to the prisoners the 'Old 
Man’ said : 'In the miracle of your escape I see 
the hand of God — therefore you are free! But 
let this be a warning to you that while you are 
in my service you must and shall obey me — no 
matter what I say or do, I must be obeyed, other- 
36 


A Conspiracy of Yesterday* 


wise the enterprise in which we are engaged could 
not be expected to terminate satisfactorily. Lieu- 
tenant, release these men and send them to their 
quarters. Have the bodies of the mutineers 
thrown overboard and we’ll endeavor to forget 
this unfortunate occurrence.’ 

“Four days later we laid off what was either 
an island or a continent and a boat manned by 
the men of Squad A was sent ashore It returned 
after nightfall, and, when hoisted aboard, we im- 
mediately got under full steam and sailed out of 
sight of land. 

“When the report came aft that the man-o’- 
war approaching was an Englishman, Squad E 
was ordered to the lower gun deck, where we 
manned the long twelve-pounder which was in 
the forward turret, while the men of B manned 
the twelve-pounder in the aft turret, and the regu- 
lar crew manned all the guns of the heaviest cali- 
bre. 

“Every gun was shotted and all were ready to 
fire, while our nerves were tensely strained as we 
waited for the word. The Englishman was not 

37 


A Conspiracy of Yesterday* 

more than fifty yards from us, and as our guns 
had him exactly covered I have not the slightest 
doubt but that our first broadside would have 
crippled him badly, even if it did not blow him 
out of the water. Our gun captain said that he 
had heard the lieutenant give orders for the tor- 
pedo tubes to be opened, and if one torpedo’ should 
be launched successfully there would be no neces- 
sity for us to fire. 

“We had seen the officer coming from the Eng- 
lishman and knew that he must be talking to the 
‘Old Man/ but this did not relieve the strain on 
our nerves — rather it increased it. Every second 
seemed a minute and every minute an hour, yet 
nothing happened and nothing did happen; the 
English officer went back to his ship, which got 
under way, and 1 we took up our routine duties. 

“For many days we cruised until at last we 
came in sight of a tropical land, and when we drew 
into shore the anchor was dropped. A Squad 
again manned a boat in which a heavy bundle had 
been placed, and after they had been ashore for 
some time we heard the sharp report of a volley. 
38 


A Conspiracy of Yesterday- 

Then all was still, while we were in a fever of 
suppressed excitement until we saw the boat re- 
turning. 

“We got under steam without delay, and the 
next day we were in the track of seagoing ves- 
sels, and four days later we cast anchor in the 
Bay of Palma in the Canaries. 

“The crew of Irish-speaking men was drawn 
up on deck when the ‘Old Man’ came from his 
cabin and said: ‘Men, here we part. You will 
be put ashore clothed in your own garments; 
money sufficient to pay your transportation to 
your homes will be given to you, and besides you 
will get six months’ extra pay as well as the 
pay which is now owing to you. A vessel will 
put in here in four or five days time, so you will 
have plenty of time to discuss what you have 
been through. One and all, I thank you for the 
loyalty which you have shown, and I would most 
earnestly advise you to shun theatrical conspira- 
tors and conspiracies if you should again decide 
to enter into an organized movement for Irish in- 
dependence. My best wish is that you and our 
39 


A Conspiracy of Yesterday ♦ 

cause may be as prosperous as man could wish. 
Good-by, and may God bless youF That's the 
last we ever saw of the 'Old Man,' as he was not 
on deck when we were put ashore. 

"It is almost needless to say that the vessel ar- 
rived as he had said and that we duly arrived at 
our homes.” 


40 


A Conspiracy of Yesterday, 


PART VI. 

EXTRACTS FROM THE DIARY OR INSPECTOR MAE- 
LON. — WHAT HAPPENED TO MR. EEEDOM, OF 
CINCINNATI, WHEN HE ARRIVED 
IN EONDON. 

Monday, the 20th. — I am afraid that the “P” 
is beginning to lose what little sense he has. Last 
night C32, who has been detailed to keep an eye 
on him while in London, reported that he had 
arrived on the Mail from Portsmouth, although 

we were certain that he was at ; but this 

morning's post brought me word from F25 that 
he had lost track of the “P” a few nights before — 
this accounts for his being in London. It seems 
that the “P” went to visit the Countess as usual, 
and that F25 waited outside, as usual, also. The 
“P” not coming out during the night nor in the 
early morning hours, F25 grew anxious and in- 1 
quired of the porter what had become of his visL 
i\ 


A Conspiracy of Yesterday ♦ 

tor. The porter refused to give F25 any infor- 
mation until F25 greased his fist, and then the 
porter said that the gentleman who had been there 
had received an important message which called 
him away shortly before midnight, and that he 
had not returned, although the Countess had ex- 
pected that he would have done so. On being 
questioned further he said that he knew who the 
gentleman was, but that he dare not mention his 
name; but on F25 producing his credentials he 
acknowledged that the gentleman was the “P.” 
F25 asked me what he was to do, as there was 
no use seeking information from the Countess, as 
she detested policemen of all nationalities and 
took particular delight in setting them astray 
when she had an opportunity to do so. I wired 
him, “All safe here. ,, 

Tuesday, the 21st. — A raid was made on a low 
Whitechapel resort last night, and of all the places 
in the world there was the “P” ! This is the first 
time he has ever resorted to such places, as gen- 
erally he finds all the amusement he requires 
amongst the ladies of the minor nobility. 

42 


A Conspiracy of Yesterday, 


Wednesday, the 22d. — Well, the inevitable has 
happened. A row took place between some coal 
porters and some Americans at Little’s public 
house last night; blows were freely exchanged 
and two of the Americans were so roughly han- 
dled that there is but little hope that they’ll be 
able to be about for weeks to come. They were 
taken to the City Hospital and this morning the 
chief surgeon ’phoned me that he had something 
of importance to communicate with reference to 
his American patients, and he wished me to go to 
the hospital at once. “Probably,” thought I, 
“they are dynamiters.” When I arrived at the 
hospital I was at once shown into the chief’s pri- 
vate office, where he met me with a very white 
face — the fact of the matter was that one of the 
“Americans” was the “P,” and the chief did not 
know what to do, as the “P’s” case was serious ! 
None of the attendants had recognized him, and 
as his name had been entered on the records as 
Mr. Leedom, of Cincinnati, U. S. A., it was pos- 
sible that this escapade might not become public 
property. 


43 


A Conspiracy of Yesterday* 

When I was shown into the ward I found the 
“P” sitting up with a bandage wrapped around 
his head in such a way that it would be impossi- 
ble for any one who did not know him well to 
recognize him. I saluted him and said, “Good 
morning, Mr. Leedom. I trust that you will 
quickly recover from your wounds.” 

“I hope so, Mr. Officer,” he replied, “as it 
would be a very serious matter for me to be de- 
tained here for any considerable time; doubtless 
I would have to look for other employment.” 

“Oh, not quite as bad as that, I hope,” I said in 
reply, “but it certainly would have a very bad 
effect if it were known.” 

“Well,” he said, “you are very right, and I 
have not the slightest doubt but that my character 
would be torn to pieces by people who would be 
very glad to see any evil befall me.” 

On my asking, he replied that he had not the 
slightest objection to granting me a private in- 
terview, and when we were alone I began : 
“Well, Your Highness, this is a very serious af- 
fair for both you and me ; were any real harm to 
44 


A Conspiracy of Yesterday* 

happen to you in London I’d never be able to 
forgive myself and Fm very sure that Her Maj- 
esty would not.” 

“Come, come, officer,” says he, “a joke is a 
joke, you know, but, between you and me, I did 
not think there was a bobby in London would 
not be able to tell the Prince of Wales the instant 
he saw him — now, officer, you know that I am 
not the Prince.” 

“I will not dispute the matter with Your High- 
ness,” I replied, “so long as you wish to remain 
Mr. Leedom, you are Mr. Leedom ; but permit me 
to say that since you arrived in London you have 
been under surveillance, and I may say that from 
the moment you left the house of the Countess 
that we could have laid our hands on you at any 
time if we wished to do so.” 

“Bosh — rot! You have wheels in your head, 
man ! I know nothing of your Countess, and if 
the Prince has a Countess that is his business, not 
mine — I’m no rubber neck ! I give you my word 
of honor that I am no other than I say I am — I 
am Arthur Leedom, of Cincinnati, and Fm here 
45 


A Conspiracy of Yesterday ♦ 

on business for my firm. I know that I am the 
Prince’s 'double/ and I’ve often taken advantage 
of the fact both here and on the Continent, but if 
you’ll take the trouble to look the matter up you’ll 
find that I speak the truth. Why, man, cable my 
firm at my expense and ask them if I am not my- 
self!” 

I was astounded to hear him talk this way, and 
gradually it came to me that his head must have 
been affected by the severe drubbing which he 
had received, so I said, more to humor him than 
for any other purpose : "Well, I’ll do so, and let 
you know the result.” 

On my telling the chief what I thought, he said 
that he had no doubt that my surmises were cor- 
rect, as His Highness had received some ugly 
knocks. I ’phoned the Yard for C32 and when 
he reported I placed him in charge and ordered 
him not to permit any one to enter the ward ex- 
cept the chief surgeon and the men whom I would 
send to him. Then I went to my office and made 
arrangements to have some of our private nurses 
and waiters wait on His Highness and attend to 
46 


A Conspiracy of Yesterday* 

all his wants. After this I made a brief report 
to the Home Secretary and asked for an inter- 
view, but as he happened to be on the point of 
leaving town he sent me word, ‘‘Under no cir- 
cumstances communicate with the Cincinnati peo- 
ple.” 

Tuesday, the 23d. — The “P” still persists in 
saying that he is “Mr. Leedom, of Cincinnati.” 

Friday, the 24th. — The “P” had a very bad 
night and the chief surgeon notified me that he 
would not be responsible for the result if he were 
not permitted to call in the royal physician for 
consultation, and when the doctor came he said 
that, although His Highness’s condition was very 
serious, yet he did not think that it would prove 
dangerous. 

Saturday. — Very slight improvement. 

Sunday to Tuesday. — Much physical improve- 
ment, but a complete failure of memory on His 
Highness’s part. He cannot even remember who 
he is, and talks in a very vague way about France, 
Switzerland and Germany. His own doctor 
asked him to-day if he recognized him, and he 
47 


A Conspiracy of Yesterday ♦ 

said, “Yes, you are Jim — Old Jim — but you know 
very well who you are, so don’t bother me !” 
i Wednesday to Tuesday. — For the past six days 
there has been considerable physical improve- 
ment, while the mind seems to remain in the same 
condition, the only difference perceptible being 
that he seems to be at a complete loss for words 
in which to express his thoughts. At times he 
mumbles something in French and laughs in a 
most silly way at everything and everybody in 
the ward. When asked who he was he said that 
he had no name, but to ask the officer, and then 
he laughed uproariously. (Mem. — His constant 
repetition of the word “officer” astonishes me, as 
he has never referred to policemen in such a man- 
ner before.) 

Wednesday. — On the Chief Secretary’s return 
to-day I made a complete report to him. He was 
pained beyond measure, but had to confess that 
he did not know what to do. He told me to call 
at 2 p. m., as in the meantime there would be a 
Cabinet meeting and he would lay the matter be- 
fore his colleagues. 


48 


A Conspiracy of Yesterday* 

Wednesday, p. m. — Saw the Chief Secretary 
and was ordered to have a hack at Downing street 
at 10.30, as the Prime Minister and other Cabinet 
officers had decided to call at the hospital to see 
the Prince. 

When the distinguished visitors arrived His 
Highness did not recognize any of them, and 

Lord was shocked at the idiotic manner 

in which they were received. The “P” cracked 
some salacious jokes and then broke into a tor- 
rent of invective in the French language, but he 
spoke so rapidly that we were unable to under- 
stand more than a word here and there. 

Friday. — At a Cabinet meeting which was held 
yesterday it was decided that it would be well 
for the “P” to go to sea for awhile, so the Royal 
Yacht was ordered to Portsmouth and His High- 
ness was taken down to-day. A rumor was set 
in circulation that His Highness had sprained his 
ankle and that the doctors had ordered a sea voy- 
age, so that he would have complete quiet. 

December the 1st to the 20th. — Reports have 
come from various foreign ports where the Royal 
49 


A Conspiracy of Yesterday* 

Yacht has touched. A slight complication has 
c risen here at home, as the Princess had to be 
told the truth, and she became so very indignant 
that she has gone to the court of Denmark to 
cool down. 

December the 20th. — Lightning from a clear 
sky would not have astonished me one-millionth 
as much as the news which I have received to- 
day. I was called in a rush to Downing street, 
and a letter in O’Shaughnessy’s writing, and 
signed by the Prince of Wales in a hand which 
we knew to be genuine, was put into my hands 
by the Chief Secretary. It was to the effect that 
the Fenians had captured His Highness and that 
they intended to hold him until the Irish should 
be granted Home Rule! The note did not say 
where and when he had been captured, but as we 
had received word from the Royal Yacht the pre- 
vious night we now saw that it was not the Prince 
of Wales, but Mr. Leedom, of Cincinnati, whom 
we had aboard. 

“Well, Mr. Inspector, what have you to say?” 
inquired the Prime Minister, and I had to admit 

50 


A Conspiracy of Yesterday* 

that I was too much astonished to form an opin- 
ion which would be of any value. All I may now 
say is that that which passed at that meeting can 
never be put on paper by me. 

December the 21st. — London is in a ferment. 
This morning’s papers have published the fact 
that all the crack cruisers have gone to sea car- 
rying sealed orders and that the Admiralty Board 
will not give out any information as to their desti- 
nation. The editors surmise that negotiations 
with the United States over the Behring Sea 
fisheries and the Canadian boundary lines have 
taken an ugly turn. The damned fools — they al- 
ways guess wrong! 

Dublin scouts the idea that the Fenians have had 
anything to do with the capturing of the Prince. 
The Chief Secretary for Ireland wired that they 
could lay their hands on all the old leaders in an 
hour and that they knew where every man of 
them had been and what he has been doing for 
the past six months. Nevertheless the constabu- 
lary has done double duty and a force of detec- 
tives have rushed through the country, and every 
5i 


A Conspiracy of Yesterday* 

man who was known or suspected of being a 
Fenian was closely watched, and nothing — not 
even a look of exultation — could be traced to any 
of them. 

The 22d. — The Royal Yacht has arrived at 
Portsmouth, and the doctor reports that the 
“Prince” has recovered all his faculties, but that 
he still persists in saying that he is Mr. Leedom. 

The doctor was wired to wait at Portsmouth 
until the Chief Secretary should run down, as he 
wished to see the “patient.” 

The 23d. — The Chief Secretary made arrange- 
ments with Mr. Leedom to play the role of the 
Prince until such time as it would be convenient 
for the Government to permit him to assume his 
own character. He was given permission to 
write to his family and firm, but, of course, he 
was not to give them the slightest hint as to 
what he had passed through, nor was he to say 
more than that he had been very sick, but that 
he was now recovering rapidly. 

January the 20th. — For the past month noth- 
ing has turned up; the Fenians have done their 
52 


A Conspiracy of Yesterday* 

work so well that we cannot get on the track of 
any one who has had hand or part in the affair. 
We have put hundreds of thousands in circulation 
in Ireland and America, but we might as well 
have kept the money in the Fund. 

The Cabinet believes that we are not looking 
up the proper people — that we have got into a rut 
and that we seem to think that when anything 
turns up it must always be turned up by the 
same set. The Chief Secretary for Ireland be- 
lieves that this is the work of a new crowd and 
that they have very few confidants and that they 
must have been backed by some European gov- 
ernment, otherwise they would not have had 
funds sufficient to carry out a scheme of such 
magnitude. 

January the 31st. — My God ! The news which 
we got to-day passes all belief — O’Shaughnessy, 
more like a ghost than like his former self, has 
returned and his report, a brief copy of which I 
I have entered here, was instantly laid before the 
Cabinet at a special meeting this morning. 


53 




A Conspiracy of Yesterday. 


PART VII. 

EXTRACTS MADE EROM REPORT OE DETECTIVE SER- 
GEANT O'SHAUGHNESSY. 

I beg leave to report that in obedience to or- 
ders, I answered the advertisement in Fainne /Tn 
Lae , and received a letter inviting me to call at 
the office of James O’Leary in Dublin, where I 
would be supplied with all information. On the 
day on which I had received the letter I took the 
Holyhead boat for Kingstown, and at ten a. m. 
the following day I was speaking to O’Leary, 
whom I recognized from his photograph in File 
“O,” Number 5810, of the Fenian Catalogues. 
He is a fluent speaker of Irish, and takes a great 
interest in the Gaelic League, so I was not sur- 
prised when I saw him, as he is now in his old 
age and has taken to dreaming of matters other 
than armed insurrection. He gave me to under- 
54 


A Conspiracy of Yesterday. 

stand that the matter was purely educational, but 
that, like every other Irish movement, if the op- 
portunity arose it might lead to something more 
important. I surmised that he was but an instru- 
ment in the matter afoot and that practically he 
knew nothing of the scheme in its entirety. I was 
employed for a period of six months at a salary 
of twenty-five shillings per week, with board, 
with the further understanding that I was to go to 
the States. 

O’Leary gave me a letter of introduction to 
John O’Dea at Cork. (His record is in the 
Fenian Catalogues, File “O,” Number 1549.) 
O’Dea told me that he absolutely knew nothing 
of the matter other than that he had been re- 
quested to engage second cabin passage to New 
York for twenty men and that he had arranged 
to send us out on the British King to Philadel- 
phia, from whence we could go to New York in 
two or three hours. As the British King was due 
to depart at 5 p. m., I did not have time to make 
a report, so wrote briefly that I was going to 
the United States and that I would communicate 
55 


A Conspiracy of Yesterday* 

further on my arrival. (Marginal note by Mal- 
lon — ‘‘This letter did not arrive, or if it did it was 
not handed to me/’) 

The British King sailed at 5.20 and on board 
I was introduced to my fellow-Gaelic Leaguers. 
All were from the Western seaboard and spoke 
Irish with far greater freedom and fluency than 
they spoke English. The one topic of conversa- 
tion was, “What are we going to do?” Vague 
guesses were made, and when the opportunity 
arose I sounded every man of them as to what 
he would do in the event of there being anything 
of a revolutionary nature afoot, and every man of 
them was quite willing to lay down his life at any 
time and in any place, providing he could get 
arms in his hands and a capable man to lead him. 
Yet not a man of them was known to me, and not 
a man of them had ever been connected with any- 
thing more advanced than Davitt’s League. 

We made Philadelphia duly; also Jersey City, 
where we were put aboard a tug and taken down 
the river without getting an opportunity to go 
ashore at New York. We were transferred to a 
56 


A Conspiracy of Yesterday* 

large and shapely steamer which, in the fading 
light, seemed to me to be a war vessel of some 
kind. 

(Editorial Note. — What follows is, in sub- 
stance, the same as the extracts from the diary of 
the New Yorker up to the time of the mutiny, 
save that O’Shaughnessy had been allotted to 
Squad A, of which all the men had seen military 
service under various governments, and because 
of this they were more efficient otherwise and 
were not required to perform laborious duties.) 

This was the first time I had seen discipline en- 
forced with such an iron hand, and I’ll confess 
that my heart stood still when I thought, “What 
if it should be discovered that I am a spy?” I 
could not expect to find the “hand of God” inter- 
vening in my behalf, and well I knew that the 
most insubordinate of the mutineers would be 
only too glad to obey any order which would ena- 
ble him to send an emissary of the Yard to hell! 
The men of A laughed over the affair that night 
and our corporal, who had served in the armies 
of England, France and America, said that he be- 
57 


A Conspiracy of Yesterday* 


lieved that the rifles had been loaded with dum- 
mies — he had watched the rifles of the firing party 
and had they been loaded with ball the men could 
not have had possibly escaped. Number Ten said 
that the “stuff” with which we had been served 
could have found its voice had we been ordered 
to fire. “Eh,” said the corporal, “you are right, 
and by the Eternal! had we been ordered we 
would have blown every man of them to kingdom 

come ! What in does a man go into such a 

scheme as this for if he does not intend to obey 
orders ? Do the fools think that they know more 
than their officers ? Boys, I tell you that the "Old 
Man' is not a Yankee-Irish politician and that he 
has an intention other than the 'bringing out of 
the full vote of the party/ He is a soldier, and if 
the Fates don’t down us he’ll do whatever he has 
set out to do.” 

Four days after the shooting of the mutineers 
the starboard lifeboat was launched and ten men 
of Squad A were the crew. We were heavily armed 
and had, besides, a rapid-fire gun at the bow. 
We pulled in to shore and lay close for five or 
58 


A Conspiracy of Yesterday. 


six hours — the night had become so dark that we 
were barely able to see the men at the other end 
of the boat — when we heard a low whistle, which 
was followed by the barking, or seeming barking, 
of a dog. We were ordered to give way, and we 
pulled in until the boat grounded. About a dozen 
men came rushing out to meet us; four of them 
bore a fifth, who seemed to be either dead or 
drugged, and him we lifted aboard. Something 
was said which I did not catch ; the lieutenant re- 
plied, and immediately we pulled with might and 
main for the cruiser, and the instant we got 
aboard she got under way. Squads A, D and F 
remained under arms all night, and men whom I 
had not seen before came on deck and manned 
the heavy guns, while the men of G had charge 
of the rapid-firers. They remained on deck until 
we got well out of sight of land, then they made 
the guns fast and went below again. From all 
these precautions I surmised that the man whom 
we had taken aboard must be of considerable im- 
portance, but I was not quite prepared to find out 


59 


A Conspiracy of Yesterday ♦ 


how important he was until I stood guard over 
the “Old Man’s” cabin on the following day. 

I stood close to the door and Number One, the 
corporal whom I’ve already mentioned, stood four 
paces from me, when the “Old Man” came out. 
“Guard,” said he, “what are your instructions 
while on duty here ?” 

“To speak no language save Irish without your 
personal orders and to permit no one to pass in 
or out of the cabin save the officer of the day or 
yourself.” 

“Correct. Now, I’ll add another order to it, 
and see that you obey it to the letter. Should 
any one come out of that cabin save the officer of 
the day or myself, shoot him dead on the spot ! 
Don’t parley for one instant — shoot ! Now,” said 
he, in English, “I’m about to repeat your orders 
in English for the benefit of the gentleman who is 
inside.” He repeated the orders verbatim and 
finished by asking me if I thoroughly understood 
them. I replied as ordered. The same orders, 
word for word, were given to the corporal, with 
the additional order that if I did not fire instantly 
60 


A Conspiracy of Yesterday* 


at the prisoner seeking to come out that he, the 
corporal, was to shoot me first and the prisoner 
afterward. He saluted and said that he’d obey 
orders, and I knew that he would, even if it were 
the Pope of Rome that he had to shoot. 

From my place just outside the door I could 
hear a low murmur as if the “Old Man” were 
arguing with somebody and that “somebody” 
was upbraiding him in a most vehement manner. 
I could hear a commotion inside; the door was 
flung open and I brought my rifle to the “ready.” 
“Guard,” called the “Old Man,” “enter.” I 
obeyed, while the corporal marched up the inter- 
vening space and covered the position which I 
had vacated. I was looking directly at the “Old 
Man” and I could not see the prisoner, though I 
could hear his heavy breathing, as he, seemingly, 
was laboring under great excitement. 

“Guard — Attention! Answer my questions in 
English,” ordered the “Old Man.” “First, what 
is your nationality?” 

“Irish.” 


A Conspiracy of Yesterday* 


“Under what nation, government or power are 
you now serving ?” 

“Ireland — the Irish Republic.” 

“Have you seen anything on this vessel that 
would lead you to believe otherwise than that we 
are to attack England in some vital spot?” 

“No.” 

“Now, Your Highness, I hope that you are 
satisfied — but to satisfy yourself further, you may 
question any or every man on the ship. Face 
the prisoner, guard, and answer any questions 
which he may be pleased to ask you.” 

While the “Old Man” had been speaking, I 
had been preparing myself, so that I neither start- 
ed nor wavered when I saw that the prisoner was 
His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales and that 
it was he who was about to address me. 

“Guard,” said he, “on your hope of salvation, 
is not this a Russian vessel and are not you a 
soldier of the Russian Government?” 

I answered no to both questions. 

“You lie! Damn you — you lie!” he roared 
rather than shouted, and I held my tongue, as I 
62 


A Conspiracy of Yesterd ay ♦ 

did not know what to say in reply, and after a 
few minutes’ silence he broke out again: 

“You may be an Irishman — you scoundrel ! and 
I doubt not that you are, because I think that I 
have seen you somewhere before.” He looked 
steadily at me for awhile, and the thought came 
to me, “What if he recognizes me? Will he be 
able to place me ?” Yet I gave no sign of the fear 
that was at my heart, as I knew that the “Old 
Man” was watching me just as intently as was 
His Highness. 

At last the “Old Man” said: “If Your High- 
ness still doubts the truth of my statement, you 
may question as many men as you wish — I’ll pa- 
rade the ship’s crew for your inspection.” 

“Call one more,” was all His Highness said. 

“Guard,” ordered the “Old Man,” “relieve the 
corporal and tell him to come here.” 

The corporal went in, and though I could not 
see what was taking place I could distinctly hear 
all that was said. His Highness asked the cor- 
poral questions similar to those which he had 


63 


A Conspiracy of Yesterday* 

asked me, and the corporal replied in almost like 
manner. Suddenly I heard the Prince say: 

“I have seen you before !” to which the cor- 
poral replied: “It is not at all unlikely, Your 
Highness, as I stood guard off and on for two 
years at Buckingham Palace and I may add that 
I am well acquainted with Your Highness’s ap- 
pearance.” 

“Oh, you ingrate! You have eaten my bread 
and now you raise your hand against me — I who 
am the son of your lawful sovereign! Begone! 
I do not want any more of you. I am satisfied 
that the men who are on this vessel are Irish, but 
I am not satisfied as to who it is that controls 
them. Out of my sight, fellow !” But the corporal 
neither answered nor moved until the “Old Man” 
ordered, “Corporal, right about face! March to 
your post !” and in obedience to the order out he 
came. 

Still loud words came from the cabin, and for 
about two hours the racket was continuous — 
some one was pounding the table at an extraor- 
dinary rate, but that it was not the “Old Man” I 

64 


A Conspiracy of Yesterday* 

felt certain, as that was not his way of doing 
business. At last the door was thrown open by 
the “Old Man,” who called: 

“Guard, enter and write at His Highness’s 
dictation whatsoever he wishes you to write.” I 
entered and stood at attention. “Sit down and 
write,” said His Highness, who dictated the fol- 
lowing letter: “I am in the hands of the Fenians, 
who have me on a cruiser in some unknown lati- 
tude. They threaten me with death if Home Rule 
is not granted to Ireland within six months. When 
the bill is passed and in operation I will be set 
at liberty, but not before. Do what you think 
best. I am a man, and can die if it be best for 
the interest of the Empire.” He signed it and 
then sealed it with a private seal. He then turned 
to the “Old Man” and said: “Here is what you 
want — you have served your master well. But, 
General, by the living God ! if the power to do so 
is ever mine I shall crush him and you and your 
damned Irish, Home Rule or no Home Rule !” 

The “Old Man” smiled and merely said : “Your 
Highness is excited at present, but after a little 
65 


A Conspiracy of Yesterday* 

reflection you’ll view this matter in another light. 
I will now bid you good-night and will have the 
honor to wait on you in the morning.” 

The engines were stopped, rockets sent up, and 
far away off on the horizon answering signals 
were to be seen. I was below ; it was after mid- 
night, when I heard the throbbing of engines and 
heard orders given in a language which was un- 
known to me ; then there was a slight concussion 
as some vessel rubbed against ours. I heard the 
swish of the waters as she passed on, and again 
all was still. Five minutes later we were under 
way, going I knew not where. 

It was after the noon hour when we sighted 
a column of black smoke rising away out on the 
horizon. “A tramp,” said the boatswain’s mate, 
who stood at my side. As this was the first trace 
of a vessel which we had seen since we left the 
port where we had put up for a few hours, all 
hands gazed at the smoke as if fascinated. Slow- 
ly the vessel rose up on the horizon, and the man 
at the lookout reported her as being a man-o’-war, 
and that she was making directly for us. In half 
66 


LcfC. 


A Conspiracy of Yesterday* 

an hour’s time she was plainly visible to the naked 
eye, and the lookout reported her as flying the 
English flag. When the “Old Man” was in- 
formed of this a scene of bustle ensued at once. 
Everything was got in readiness as if we were to 
engage in a fight. The Russian colors were run 
up to the masthead, and as a puff of smoke darted 
from the side of the British ship one of our six- 
pounders spoke in reply. Then we lay to while 
the Englishman did likewise, and a boat came off 
from him to us ; it was manned by a regular crew 
of blue-jackets, and was commanded by a lieuten- 
ant, who, when he came on deck, was received 
with all honors. I was standing about ten paces 
or so from the ladder, but I was unable to under- 
stand what was being said owing to my ignorance 
of the French language ; yet it seemed to me that 
the lieutenant looked surprised at seeing so many 
Celtic faces on a Russian vessel, but just then the 
deck officer gave some orders, as usual in Irish, 
and was obeyed so promptly that, if the English- 
man had any doubts as to our being Russians, 
they must have vanished at once. How could it 
67 


A Conspiracy of Yesterday* 


be otherwise? Would it not be an impossibility 
for Irish sailors to understand the Russian lan- 
guage? 

The “Old Man” took the lieutenant to his cabin 
(I wondered what he had done with His High- 
ness in the meantime), and I suppose that they 
had a glass of wine or so, and, perhaps, a little 
gossip as to the things which usually interest men 
of their class. However, the lieutenant seemed 
to be in excellent humor when he came on deck ; 
certainly he parted most cordially with the “Old 
Man.” When he reached his ship — which, by 
the way, I think, was the Bellerophon — she got 
under way, as did we, and the usual parting sa- 
lutes were fired. 

If the lieutenant had known whom we held as 
a prisoner, that parting would not have been 
so cordial, although considerably more powder 
would have been burned. 

Every day the corporal and I stood guard at 
the cabin door — each watch was of four hours’ 
duration. We went on at 8 a. m. and stood until 
12 , then again from 8 p. m. until midnight; who 
68 


A Conspiracy of Yesterday* 

held the intervening watches I do not know, ex- 
cept that the men were from A and C squads. 
For ten days nothing out of the usual run hap- 
pened, but on the morning of the eleventh the 
“Old Man” told us that the goctor was to be per- 
mitted to come and go as often as he wished. 
During the two following days the doctor visited 
His Highness every two or three hours, and dur- 
ing the night of the third day he remained with 
him altogether. That the Prince must be very 
sick I knew very well, but I did not think that 
he could be so bad as to require the constant at- 
tendance of the doctor — yet there was the doctor, 
the “'Old Man’s” personal servant and two 
stewards waiting on him constantly. For the fol- 
lowing ten days the doctor was seldom absent 
from the cabin for more than an hour at a time, 
and I and the corporal wondered where and when 
he slept. The corporal “guessed” that it was 
more anxiety for the Prince than because he real- 
ly needed constant attention that kept the doctor 
and the attendants always on the run. Said he: 
“Whatever is the matter with him would be count- 
69 


A Conspiracy of Yesterday* 

ed as nothing worth noticing were it you or I who 
had it. We must consider how important he is 
to the “Old Man’s” game, and make proper al- 
lowances for his anxiety that nothing should hap- 
pen to him while we have him in our hands.” 
Previous to this nothing seemed to be able to 
ruffle the “Old Man.” The night which we re- 
pulsed the mutineers he was smiling just as calm- 
ly as if it were only “make believe,” but there 
could be no denying that he was very much wor- 
ried now. 

On the twelfth day he was actually haggard as 
he came out of the cabin, and without any pre- 
liminary remarks he asked me if I had seen many 
men die, and on my replying that I had, he bade 
me go into the cabin and look at His Highness, 
but to be sure not to make any noise. Words 
cannot express my feelings on beholding His 
Highness. I was confident that he could not live 
out the night. The “Old Man” motioned me to 
go out and tell the corporal to come in, and a few 
minutes later he, too, came out with the “Old 
Man” close behind him. “Well ?” was the laconic 
70 


A Conspiracy of Y esterday* 

interrogation of the “Old Man,” and I said that I 
did not see how His Highness could possibly live 
until morning, and the corporal agreed with me, 
though he was not positive, as he had never seen 
any one suffering from pneumonia before. “The 
doctor says,” the “Old Man” volunteered to us, 
“that if the Prince lives for twenty-four hours he 
will be able to pull him through, but he has very 
little hope that he will last so long, as the Prince 
has not led the sort of a life which enables a man 
to resist pneumonia.” 

His Highness died exactly at ten a. m. on the 
following day. The doctor came out of the cabin 
and told the corporal to call the “Old Man,” but 
the corporal refused to go himself or to permit 
me to go ; he told the doctor to go himself or to 
send the valet. The valet went, and when the 
“Old Man” came he was as white as a sheet — 
he seemed to have aged twenty years within a few 
hours. He passed into the cabin, and in a few 
minutes came out again. He ordered the cor- 
poral and me to go in and assist the doctor and 
stewards. His Highness was lying on the bed, 
71 


A Conspiracy of Yesterday* 

and seemed to be calmly sleeping, but the grow- 
ing coldness of the body proclaimed that the sleep 
was eternal. 

Three days later he was buried — where, I do 
not know, as I had no means to find out; but 
he was buried with military honors. I was of the 
firing party. 

From the Bay of Palma I was taken to the 
United States, from whence I have made all haste 
to return and deliver this report. 

Patrick O’Shaughnessy, 
Sergeant of D. F. No. 22. 


72 , 


A Conspiracy of Yesterday, 


PART VIII. 

INSPECTOR MATRON'S DIARY CONCLUDED. 

Words fail to describe the consternation pro- 
duced by the reading of O’Shaughnessy’s report 
— the Prime Minister was dumfounded and the 
Plome Secretary collapsed before he had heard 
one-half. The Secretary was the first to rally, 
and proposed that Leedom should play the part 
of the Prince of Wales until such time as it would 
be politic to let the world know the truth ; in the 
meantime the Empire should put forth all its 
might to scour the globe for the perpetrators of 
the colossal crime. 

When this conclusion was reached I was told to 
retire, and do not know what took place afterward, 
but from close reading of the Court Journal I 
can give a good guess as to how the convalescent 

73 


A Conspiracy of Yesterday < 


“Prince” was received by the royal family ! The 
coldness between the “Prince” and his royal 
nephew of Germany has been well threshed out 
by the penny-a-liners, who with their usual sagac- 
ity know as much of the real cause as they do of 
a future existence ! 

A paragraph appeared in a New York news- 
paper to the effect that Mr. Leedom, of Cincin- 
nati, had fallen over a cliff while mountain climb- 
ing in Switzerland, and that his body had not been 
recovered. The fact that the New York Life In- 
surance Company was so well satisfied with the 
proofs of his death that it had at once made the 
first payment on acoount of an annuity to his 
widow precludes all possibility of Mr. Leedom’s 
being alive. The paragraph may be true, and it 
may not — who knows ? 

O’Shaughnessy has lost his nerve completely 
and will never be worth a button again to the 
force — he has a holy dread that the “Old Man” 
has not yet done with his schemes to destroy the 
Empire. In the privacy of my home we occa- 
sionally discuss the. royal succession, and 
74 


A Conspiracy of Yesterday ♦ 

O’Shaughnessy maintains that our next king will 
be a Yankee, while I scout the idea, as I believe 
that the “Prince of Wales” will either die before 
Her Majesty, or else he’ll abdicate in favor of 
the Duke of York. But : ? 


THE END. 


75 












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